Premier Jiang Resigns

“The election results have shown that the government's policies have failed to satisfy the people. The voters have sent out their message via their votes,” said Jiang at a press conference after preliminary results were made available.

“Therefore I assume the political responsibility and have offered to resign,” Jiang said. He added that President Ma Ying-jeou had already accepted his resignation but has yet to decide on his successor.

Ma, as chairman of the KMT, conceded defeat, but called for unity within the party.

He refused to relinquish his control over the KMT despite calls starting to emerge from within the party ranks for his resignation as party chairman.

Ma said the party has “heard the voices of the voters,” and promised to continue to push for reform.

He called on all parties to put confrontations behind them and work for the future of the nation.

KMT Secretary-General Tseng Yung-chuan also resigned to assume responsibility for the party's heavy defeat.

The KMT's poor showing came as a surprise particularly in some of its traditional strongholds.